Jussie Smollett Bounces Back From Scandal With Feature Directorial Debut ‘B-Boy Blues’

“not a piece of s–t” after “gaining clarity” during his recent mini-prison stint — but many viewers of the 2022 BET Awards aren’t ready to let him off the hook just yet. Smollett, 40, made his controversial return to the red carpet at Sunday Los Angeles’ Microsoft Theater — after being sprung in March when he served only six days of his 150-day sentence in March for five counts of felony disorderly conduct at Cook County Jail in Chicago.The 2015 BET nominee for best actor was ostensibly there to hype his directorial debut with BET+ streaming flick “B-Boy Blues” — but he announced some other big plans, too.“This has always been the plan, to expand my empire, so to speak,” Smollett expounded to the press corps on the scene, the Daily Mail reported.

Jussie Smollett has made his return to Hollywood after his slew of legal troubles over the past three and half years, and he's excited to be making his art again.Smollett spoke with ET on the red carpet at this year's BET Awards, at Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on Sunday, and opened up about his career comeback as a director of the BET+ original movie While Smollett said he «never thought of myself as working my way back,» he admitted that getting the chance to get back on a set and create following his legal scandal has been «wonderful.»«This has always been the plan, to expand my empire, so to speak,» Smollett said of stepping behind the camera to helm a project and work with other actors as a director. «To expand the level of what I want to do… to be able to usher in a new generation of artists and actors and these amazing talents.»Starring, Timothy Richardson, Ledisi, Brandee Evans, Heather B, Marquise Vilson, Jabari Redd, Broderick Hunter and Thomas Mackie, is the film adaptation of James Earl Hardy’s novel by the same name.Smollett's directorial debut comes after he was sentenced to 150 days behind bars in March and given 30 months of felony probation -- three months after he was found guilty on five of the six counts of disorderly conduct for which he was charged. Smollett also had a message for those who stuck by him and supported him throughout his legal scandal as he staunchly denied wrongdoing.«I tell them, with all my heart, just thank you,» Smollett told ET.

Jussie Smollett is maintaining his innocence. Smollett, 40, insisted he did not lie about the alleged hate crime hoax in a new interview on the SiriusXM show "Sway in the Morning." "If I had done this, I’d be a piece of s---. And I don’t think that’s really questionable," he said.

Jussie Smollett is standing his ground!

Lionsgate has acquired Breeders, an upcoming horror project that has Olivia Cooke (Slow Horses) attached to star, Deadline can confirm.

to Deadline on Wednesday, with a debut sometime in 2023.“Synchronize Your Watches — The Future’s coming to Broadway in 2023!!!,” reads the tweet which includes a clip featuring the West End actors. The West End version of the show — which opened in 2021 — features music and lyrics from Alan Silvestri and Glen Ballard as well as a book written by the original “Back to the Future” writer Bob Gale.

Jussie Smollett has not forgotten what it's like to be left with «you, your thoughts and these walls.» In a new interview on SiriusXM’s, the 40-year-old actor recalled his experience in the psych ward at the Cook County Jail before he was released on bond in March while he appealed his 150-day conviction.Smollett said God and his family helped him get through his time behind bars and noted the mental clarity he achieved through fasting. «I was there for six and a half days. I fasted for six and a half days,» he confirmed.

Jussie Smollett is opening up about life after his conviction.

Jussie Smollett sat down for an extensive interview on SiriusXM’s Sway in the Morning.

Elisabeth Moss is killing it right now, and as we detailed in our interview with the actress last week about her new Apple TV+ series “Shining Girls,” she is becoming a major triple threat, evolving from an actor who is instrumental in calling the shot, producing and directing nearly everything she appears in. Just like Hulu’s “The Handmaid’s Tale,” of which Moss is the lead and now a producer and one of the directors, on “Shining Girls”—an ambitious series about an assault victim, a time-traveling serial killer, and a journalistic procedural to catch the killer—she took on a similar role on a (read our review here).

A new era! Kim Kardashian “isn’t holding back her love” for Pete Davidson — and is ready for fans to see even more of their chemistry when The Kardashians returns.

EXCLUSIVE: Courtney Eaton (Yellowjackets) and Thomas Mann (Me and Earl and the Dying Girl) will lead actor Brittany Snow’s feature directorial debut, September 17th, for Yale Entertainment. Gina Rodriguez (Jane the Virgin) and Joel McHale (Community) are also set, joining the previously announced Scott Mescudi (aka Kid Cudi) as part of the supporting cast.

Owen Gleiberman Chief Film CriticB.J. Novak’s “Vengeance,” which premiered last night at the Tribeca Film Festival (it opens July 29), is an irresistible original — a heady, jaunty, witty-as-they-come tall tale that’s just grounded enough in the real world to carry you along.

Billy Porter is stepping out for the 2022 Tony Awards!

EXCLUSIVE, UPDATED WITH ADDITIONAL DETAILS, 10:15 a.m.: Scarlett Johansson (Black Widow) has signed on to star in My Mother’s Wedding — the first feature directed by Oscar-nominated actress Kristin Scott Thomas (Slow Horses), which is currently in production.